Quincy Wilson Becomes Youngest U.S. Track Olympian

Quincy Wilson is set to become the youngest U.S. track Olympian after being selected to the U.S. 4×400-meter relay team.

Announcing the news on Instagram, the 16-year-old wrote: “WE’RE GOING TO THE OLYMPICS #paris2024 #teamusa.” »

Although the team won’t be officially announced until later this month, Wilson’s coach Joe Lee told USA TODAY that the teenage sensation received the news Sunday. “The call came directly from USA Track & Field,” he told the newspaper. “I called Quincy afterward to tell him the good news.”

Wilson, a student at the Bullis School near Washington, D.C., turned in a remarkable performance during the trials, setting – and subsequently surpassing – the world record for runners under 18.

“I’ve never been happier in my life in athletics,” Wilson said after breaking the record in the 400-meter semifinals.

Justin Robinson, an American, held the under-18 world record in the 400 meters before Wilson’s races at the trials. Robinson ran 44.84 seconds in 2019, when he was 17.

Wilson broke Robinson’s record on June 21 by running in 44.66 seconds. He broke his own record on June 23 when he ran in the semifinals in 44.59 seconds.

Wilson was seconds away from making the team as an individual runner last week after finishing sixth in the 400-meter final.

Nevertheless, Wilson’s already historic experience in the selection events only improved after he was named to the relay team.

Before him, the youngest American track athletes to qualify for the Olympics were Jim Ryun and Erriyon Knighton, both 17 when they became Olympians.

Ryun and Knighton both made their respective debuts at the Tokyo Olympics, 57 years apart. Ryun made his debut in 1964 and Knighton in 2021. Knighton will also be in Paris after qualifying in the 200 meters on Saturday.